Tanakhתנ״ך

Locations of Aaron's Death in Torah

The Torah mentions Aaron's death in multiple passages across Numbers and Deuteronomy. Sources address the primary account at Mount Hor and secondary references in Deuteronomy, as well as classical commentaries that reconcile apparent discrepancies in the narrative.

שָׁם מֵת אַהֲרֹן וַיִּקָּבֵר שָׁם

9 sources · all verified

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What the sources say

The primary account of Aaron's death appears in Bamidbar 20:23, where God speaks to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor on the boundary of Edom, and the narrative concludes in Bamidbar 20:22–29, where Moses strips Aaron of his priestly vestments, transfers them to Eleazar, and Aaron dies on the summit — after which all of Israel mourned him for thirty days.

A second mention appears in Devarim 10:6, which states that Aaron died and was buried at Moserah, and that his son Eleazar became priest in his stead — a passage that Rashi (Devarim 10:6) and the Ramban (Devarim 10:6) both note is textually difficult, since the itinerary in Bamidbar places Moserah eight stations away from Mount Hor, not identical to it.

A third reference comes in Devarim 32:50, where God instructs Moses that he will die on the mountain he is ascending and be gathered to his kin, explicitly invoking the precedent that 'your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his kin.'

Rashi (Bamidbar 20:22–29) adds that Mount Hor was shaped like a small apple atop a large apple, and that three mountains were left standing — Sinai for the giving of the Torah, Mount Hor for Aaron's burial, and Mount Nebo for Moses' burial.

Source 1 · Tanach
Verified

Deuteronomy 32:50

דברים ל״ב:נ׳

Deuteronomy 32:50

God tells Moshe that he will die on the mountain as his brother Aharon died on Hor HaHar, making Aharon’s death a comparison-point for Moshe’s own impending death.

וּמֻ֗ת בָּהָר֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר אַתָּה֙ עֹלֶ֣ה שָׁ֔מָּה וְהֵאָסֵ֖ף אֶל־עַמֶּ֑יךָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־מֵ֞ת אַהֲרֹ֤ן אָחִ֙יךָ֙ בְּהֹ֣ר הָהָ֔ר וַיֵּאָ֖סֶף אֶל־עַמָּֽיו׃

You shall die on the mountain that you are about to ascend, and shall be gathered to your kin, as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his kin;

Source 2 · Tanach
Verified

Deuteronomy 10:6

דברים י׳:ו׳

Deuteronomy 10:6

In Moshe’s retelling of the wilderness journey, this verse notes that the Israelites traveled from Be'erot Bnei Ya'akan to Mosera, where Aharon died and was buried, and Elazar served in his stead. It is one of the Torah’s additional references to Aharon’s death.

וּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נָ֥סְע֛וּ מִבְּאֵרֹ֥ת בְּנֵי־יַעֲקָ֖ן מוֹסֵרָ֑ה שָׁ֣ם מֵ֤ת אַהֲרֹן֙ וַיִּקָּבֵ֣ר שָׁ֔ם וַיְכַהֵ֛ן אֶלְעָזָ֥ר בְּנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃

From Beeroth-bene-jaakan the Israelites marched to Moserah. Aaron died there and was buried there; and his son Eleazar became priest in his stead.

Source 3 · Tanach
Verified

Numbers 20:22-29

במדבר כ׳:כ״ב-כ״ט

Numbers 20:22-29

This is the Torah's primary account of Aharon's death at Hor HaHar. It records Moshe and Aharon ascending the mountain, Aharon’s garments being transferred to Elazar, Aharon’s death there, and the nation’s thirty-day mourning.

וַיַּפְשֵׁט֩ מֹשֶׁ֨ה אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹ֜ן אֶת־בְּגָדָ֗יו וַיַּלְבֵּ֤שׁ אֹתָם֙ אֶת־אֶלְעָזָ֣ר בְּנ֔וֹ וַיָּ֧מׇת אַהֲרֹ֛ן שָׁ֖ם בְּרֹ֣אשׁ הָהָ֑ר וַיֵּ֧רֶד מֹשֶׁ֛ה וְאֶלְעָזָ֖ר מִן־הָהָֽר׃ וַיִּרְאוּ֙ כׇּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה כִּ֥י גָוַ֖ע אַהֲרֹ֑ן וַיִּבְכּ֤וּ אֶֽת־אַהֲרֹן֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים י֔וֹם כֹּ֖ל בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ {ס}

Moses stripped Aaron of his vestments and put them on his son Eleazar, and Aaron died there on the summit of the mountain. When Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, the whole community knew that Aaron had breathed his last. All the house of Israel bewailed Aaron thirty days.

Source 4 · Tanach
Verified

recovered from “Shem MiShmuel, Chukat 5782

Numbers

במדבר כ׳:כ״ג

Numbers 20:23

God spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom.

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן בְּהֹ֣ר הָהָ֑ר עַל־גְּב֥וּל אֶֽרֶץ־אֱד֖וֹם לֵאמֹֽר׃

At Mount Hor, on the boundary of the land of Edom, GOD said to Moses and Aaron,

Source 5 · Rishonim
Verified

Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 10:6

Chizkuni, Deuteronomy 10:6

According to this passage, Aaron died at the end of the forty-year period at Mount Hor when the Israelites traveled from Baaroth, not during the sin of the Golden Calf at the beginning of that period, as evidenced by the account in the section of Massei describing their journey from Moserot to Bani Yaakan and then to Mount Hor where Aaron died.

ובני ישראל נסעו מבארת כלומר אל תאמרו בתחלת הארבעים שנה במעשה העגל מת אהרן ולא הועילה לו תפלתי שהרי בסוף הארבעים מת הוא בהר ההר באותו זמן כשנסעו בנ״‎י מבארות בני יעקן שבאו שם ממוסרה כדכתיב בפרשת מסעי ויסעו ממסורות ויחנו בבני יעקן והלכו משם עד הר ההר שם מת אהרן ולא במעשה העגל. שם מת אהרן אז מת אהרן כמו משם רועה אבן ישראל שפי׳‎ מאז.

Source 6 · Rishonim
Verified

Rashi on Numbers 20:22-29

רש"י על במדבר כ׳:כ״ב-כ״ט

Rashi on Numbers 20:22-29

Rashi comments on the Torah’s account of Aharon’s death, including the sequence of ascent, garment transfer, death, and the people’s mourning. His comments help identify the straightforward peshat of the verses.

הר ההר. הַר עַל גַּבֵּי הַר, כְּתַפּוּחַ קָטָן עַל גַּבֵּי תַפּוּחַ גָּדוֹל, וְאַעַ"פִּ שֶׁהֶעָנָן הוֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם וּמַשְׁוֶה אֶת הֶהָרִים, שְׁלֹשָׁה נִשְׁאֲרוּ בָהֶן — הַר סִינַי לַתּוֹרָה וְהֹר הָהָר לִקְבוּרַת אַהֲרֹן וְהַר נְבוֹ לִקְבוּרַת מֹשֶׁה (תנחומא): על גבול ארץ אדום. מַגִּיד שֶׁמִּפְּנֵי שֶׁנִּתְחַבְּרוּ כָאן לְהִתְקָרֵב לְעֵשָׂו הָרָשָׁע, נִפְרְצוּ מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם וְחָסְרוּ הַצַּדִּיק הַזֶּה, וְכֵן הַנָּבִיא אוֹמֵר לִיהוֹשָׁפָט (דברי הימים ב' כ') "בְּהִתְחַבֶּרְךָ עִם אֲחַזְיָהוּ פָּרַץ ה' אֶת מַעֲשֶׂיךָ" (תנחומא):

הר ההר MOUNT HOR (more lit., the mount of the mount) — This was a mount on top of a mount, like a small apple on top of a large apple. — Although the cloud went before them and levelled the mountains (cf. Rashi on 10:34), yet three of them remained: Mount Sinai for the giving of the Torah, Mount Hor for Aaron’s burial place, and Mount Nebo for Moses’ burial place (Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 14). על גבול ארץ אדום BY THE BOUNDARY OF THE LAND OF EDOM — This (the statement that Aaron died here) tells us that because they here wished to join themselves in close friendship with the wicked, a breach was made in their works and they had to lose this righteous man, Aaron. Similarly does the prophet say, (II Chronicles 20:37) “Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the Lord hath made a breach in thy works” (Midrash Tanchuma, Chukat 14).

Source 7 · Rishonim
Verified

Ramban on Deuteronomy 10:6

רמב"ן על דברים י׳:ו׳

Ramban on Deuteronomy 10:6

Ramban addresses the text’s mention of Aharon’s death at Mosera and the relationship between the various wilderness locations, offering a deeper resolution of the verses’ sequence.

וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל נָסְעוּ מִבְּאֵרֹת בְּנֵי יַעֲקָן מוֹסֵרָה, מָה עִנְיָן זֶה לְכָאן, וְעוֹד וְכִי מִבְּאֵרוֹת בְּנֵי יַעֲקָן נָסְעוּ לְמוֹסֵרָה, וַהֲלֹא מִמּוֹסֵרָה בָּאוּ לִבְנֵי יַעֲקָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר לג לא) וַיִּסְעוּ מִמֹּסֵרוֹת וַיַּחֲנוּ בִּבְנֵי יַעֲקָן, וְעוֹד שָׁם מֵת אַהֲרֹן וַהֲלֹא בְּהֹר הָהָר מֵת, צֵא וַחֲשֹׁב וְתִמְצָא שְׁמוֹנָה מַסָּעוֹת מִמּוֹסֵרוֹת לְהֹר הָהָר. וְעוֹד זֹאת עֲשִׂיתֶם, כְּשֶׁמֵּת אַהֲרֹן בְּהֹר הָהָר בְּסוֹף אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה וְנִסְתַּלְּקוּ עַנְנֵי הַכָּבוֹד יְרֵאתֶם לָכֶם מִמִּלְחֶמֶת מֶלֶךְ עֲרָד, וּנְתַתֶּם רֹאשׁ לַחֲזֹר לְמִצְרַיִם, וַחֲזַרְתֶּם לַאֲחוֹרֵיכֶם שְׁמוֹנָה מַסָּעוֹת עַד בְּנֵי יַעֲקָן וּמִשָּׁם לְמוֹסֵרָה, שָׁם נִלְחֲמוּ בָּכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִי וְהָרְגוּ מִכֶּם וְאַתֶּם מֵהֶם עַד שֶׁהֶחְזִירוּ אֶתְכֶם לַדֶּרֶךְ וְהִנֵּה עָלוּ אֶל רֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל הַר וְהִגִּיעוּ כְּנֶגֶד מוֹסֵרוֹת וּמֵת אַהֲרֹן שָׁם, וְהוּא שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שם פסוק כח) וַיָּמָת אַהֲרֹן שָׁם בְּרֹאשׁ הָהָר, וְהִנֵּה מִיתָתוֹ בְּמוֹסֵרָה.

Source 8 · Rishonim
Verified

Rashi on Deuteronomy 10:6

רש"י על דברים י׳:ו׳

Rashi on Deuteronomy 10:6

Rashi addresses the apparent discrepancy between Mosera and Hor HaHar and explains the verse’s reference to Aharon’s death in Deuteronomy’s retelling. This is a classic Rashi on the Torah’s second mention of the event.

מָה עִנְיָן זֶה לְכָאן? וְעוֹד, וְכִי מִבְּאֵרוֹת בְּנֵי יַעֲקָן נָסְעוּ לְמוֹסֵרָה, וַהֲלֹא מִמּוֹסֵרָה בָּאוּ לִבְנֵי יַעֲקָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיִּסְעוּ מִמֹּסֵרוֹת וְגוֹ'" (במדבר ל"ג), וְעוֹד, שָׁם מֵת אַהֲרֹן, וַהֲלֹא בְּהֹר הָהָר מֵת, צֵא וַחֲשֹׁב וְתִמְצָא שְׁמוֹנָה מַסָּעוֹת מִמּוֹסֵרוֹת לְהֹר הָהָר? אֶלָּא אַף זוֹ מִן הַתּוֹכֵחָה, וְעוֹד זֹאת עֲשִׂיתֶם כְּשֶׁמֵּת אַהֲרֹן בְּהֹר הָהָר לְסוֹף אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה וְנִסְתַּלְּקוּ עַנְנֵי כָבוֹד, יְרֵאתֶם לָכֶם מִמִּלְחֶמֶת מֶלֶךְ עֲרָד, וּנְתַתֶּם רֹאשׁ לַחֲזֹר לְמִצְרַיִם וַחֲזַרְתֶּם לַאֲחוֹרֵיכֶם שְׁמוֹנָה מַסָּעוֹת עַד בְּנֵי יַעֲקָן, וּמִשָּׁם לְמוֹסֵרָה, שָׁם נִלְחֲמוּ בָּכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִי וְהָרְגוּ מִכֶּם וְאַתֶּם מֵהֶם, עַד שֶׁהֶחֱזִירוּ אֶתְכֶם בְּדֶרֶךְ חֲזָרַתְכֶם

Source 9 · Rishonim
Verified

Ramban on Numbers 20:22-29

רמב"ן על במדבר כ׳:כ״ב-כ״ט

Ramban on Numbers 20:22-29

Ramban discusses the chronology and significance of Aharon’s death in the wilderness narrative, including the symbolic transfer of priestly garments to Elazar and the broader implications of the event.

וְהַקָּרוֹב כִּי כַּאֲשֶׁר יָרַד אַהֲרֹן מֵעֲשׂוֹת הַתָּמִיד וְהִקְטִיר הַקְּטֹרֶת וְהֶעֱלָה הַנֵּרוֹת, הֶעֱלָה אוֹתוֹ אֶל הֹר הָהָר כְּשֶׁהָיָה לָבוּשׁ בִּגְדֵי כְּהוּנָּה וְהִפְשִׁיט אוֹתָם.

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